NAC L.I.T. (Literacy in Tandem) ECE Literacy Specialist

New Alternatives For Children•New York, NY

47d•$50,000 - $65,000•Onsite

About The Position

Come join NAC as a Literacy Specialist and help young children discover the joy of books and reading while empowering their caregivers to be their first teachers. Through NAC L.I.T.! (Literacy in Tandem)—a creative, play-based early literacy program—you'll lead fun, evidence-based sessions that build language, imagination, and connection. This is a chance to make a measurable difference in children's early learning journeys while working with a supportive, mission-driven team. This new, play-based literacy initiative supports children ages 0-5 and their families through individualized weekly sessions that spark curiosity, strengthen early reading and language skills, and empower caregivers as their child's first and most important teacher. Using an evidence-based curriculum, the Literacy Specialist will lead engaging sessions that help families build confidence and connection through books, play, and storytelling. If you have a passion for literacy and working with children and families, please apply.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field with relevant experiences
Master's degree in a relevant field in Social Sciences, Education, Social Work, and others.
2 to 3 years working with children and/or families.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Excellent written and oral skills.
Willingness to travel throughout NYC, as needed

Nice To Haves

Teaching experience preferable.
Proficiency in Spanish is desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead recruitment efforts and outreach across departments and with specific families
Conduct developmental and literacy screenings for each child-caregiver pair.
Lead weekly 1:1 sessions (20-60 minutes) tailored to each child's age, interests, and developmental needs.
Coach caregivers to support literacy at home—turning everyday routines into learning moments.
Track progress using ongoing monitoring and observational data.
Introduce families to local literacy resources, including library programs and story hours.
Work closely with our early childhood education specialists in the ongoing support of children and the collection of school-based data
Co-develop trainings for NAC staff in literacy-forward engagement strategies
Help maintain NAC's literacy-rich environment
A lead role in the recruitment of Department interns and per diem employees and possible supervision of interns and per diem employees.
Oversight of supervisee data maintenance and adherence of data deadlines.
Oversight of and assistance with inter-department collaboration.
Possible participation in various NAC committees/sub-committees as a representative of the NAC Futures team
When necessary, attend Case Reviews, Family Team Conferences, Adoption Disclosure Conferences, etc.
Serve as a collaborator with NAC's Quality Improvement team
Assist with the compilation and presentation of Department data in support of NAC's Development department
Assistance with grants management and with grant applications.
Agency-wide communication of relevant information related to the Department and programmatic opportunities.
Liaise with school staff and city agency officials and offices, as needed
Build and maintain partnerships with outside organizations, as appropriate
Participation in coalitions, collaborations, alliances, and working groups with outside organizations, as appropriate.